Top 5 Brain Games for Dogs at Home
You do not need a training studio to give your dog a mental workout. These five brain games work in any living room.
Part of my dog enrichment guide.
Five Brain Games for Dogs at Home
1. Treat puzzle. Hide snacks inside a puzzle feeder such as the Honeycomb Puzzle Feeder for Dogs.
2. Sniff and seek. Hide treats around the house and let your dog sniff them out.
3. Slow feeder meals. Serve dinner in a puzzle or treat toy instead of a bowl.
4. Name that toy. Teach your dog the names of their toys, then ask for each by name.
5. Treat dispenser game. Let your dog earn treats from the Bear Slow Feeder & Treat Dispensing Toy or the Oval Slow Feeder & Treat Dispenser Toy.
How to Start a Brain Game
Pick one game, keep it easy and stop while your dog still wants more. Add a new game each week.
Brain Games Compared
Choose by what you have at home.
| Game | What you need | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Treat puzzle | A puzzle feeder | Calm focus |
| Sniff and seek | A few treats | Nose work |
| Slow feeder meal | A puzzle or treat toy | Mealtime |
| Name that toy | Your dog's toys | Training |
| Treat dispenser | A treat toy | Rolling and nudging |
Where to Go From Here
For indoor and outdoor ideas, see my enrichment activities for dogs in Canada and dog enrichment for apartment living. The full guide is the dog enrichment guide.
What is a brain game for dogs? A simple activity that makes your dog think, such as a puzzle, a sniffing game or a treat hunt.
Do I need toys? No. Sniff and seek needs only treats. Toys add variety.
How long should a game last? Ten minutes is plenty.
Brain games make good use of a spare ten minutes. Browse the Interactive Pet Toys and add a few tools.
Related dog enrichment guides
- Dog enrichment guide
- Enrichment activities for dogs in Canada
- Dog enrichment for apartment living
- Active play ideas for dogs and cats
Shop the collection: Interactive Pet Toys
Let customers speak for us
Willow loves eating out of this leaf feeder! The construction is very good quality and feels solid/ not like it’s going to break. She is a picky eater and doesn’t normally eat full meals but will eat full meals out of this! Love the grippy bottom so it doesn’t slip. Nothing to complain about :)
Golden Luca is pretty and it has my name and phone number on the flip side.
I bought it for Bao Bei to help him eat slower, also have a unique feeding bowl
He is busy with it for hours and also I can fetch the toy when we want to spend time together
It made Sabar’s meal time more than double and I enjoy watching him eating from his unique bowl
My paw was eating too fast and this bowl helped me to fix this problem
It can keep my cat's busy for a long time, but it should be under supervised I think. Long time playing with it can make them tired!
Maki playing with her ball. 😀
I'm using this stuff to keep my puppy busy and happy everyday.
It keeps my puppy busy for more than 30 mins every time for a meal. and even after that she plays with it around as long as She get tired!
Fun "beginner level" toy. Works for cats too:)
Durable plastic, feels nice.
it is a bit hard on the walls but the cat just watches it. Does not interact with it. The ball works really well for what it is supposed to do.
If it was a bit softer the cat might enjoy it more.
I gave one to a neighbour who's dog loves it. She has a small dog so the size is just right.
Great bowl and such fun. Amazing the difference in time it now takes for my puppy to finish her meals. Much healthier for her! And she loves to play with it once it’s empty
Got this toy for my girl Archie and she absolutely loves it! It’s super durable, keeps her entertained for hours, and the treat dispenser is a fun bonus. Totally worth it
As soon as this ball comes out he gets very excited. The ball allows him to play by himself with the ball. His favourite toy by far.
